Abstract
Peri-implant bone density plays an important role in the osseointegration of dental implants. The aim of the study was to evaluate via micro-CT, in Hounsfield units, the bone density around dental implants coated with chitosan and melatonin and to compare it with the bone density around implants with a conventional etched surface after 12 weeks of immediate post-extraction placement in the jaws of Beagle dogs. Six dogs were used, and 48 implants were randomly placed: three groups—melatonin, chitosan, and control. Seven 10 mm × 10 mm regions of interest were defined in each implant (2 in the crestal zone, 4 in the medial zone, and 1 in the apical zone). A total of 336 sites were studied with the AMIDE tool, using the Norton and Gamble classification to assess bone density. The effect on bone density of surface coating variables (chitosan, melatonin, and control) at the crestal, medial, and apical sites and the implant positions (P2, P3, P4, and M1) was analyzed at bivariate and multivariate levels (linear regression). Adjusted effects on bone density did not indicate statistical significance for surface coatings (p = 0.653) but did for different levels of ROIs (p < 0.001) and for positions of the implants (p = 0.032). Micro-CT, with appropriate software, proved to be a powerful tool for measuring osseointegration.
Highlights
Due to its excellent mechanical and biological properties, pure titanium (Ti) and different alloys have been widely used in the fields of orthopedics and dentistry
0.54 ± 0.13, and 0.59 ± 0.14 for chitosan test group (ChG), melatonin test group (MtG), and control group (CG), respectively, and the lowest Bone density (BD) was recorded in the apical area (−243 Hounsfield units (HU)) in left P4 in MtG, with mean values of −0.20 ± 0.32
The highest BD (+995 HU) was recorded in left P3 and the lowest (−330 HU) in left M1; mean values ranged from 0.12 ± 0.35 for P2 with the Mt coating to 0.05 ± 0.23 for M1 with the Ch coating
Summary
Due to its excellent mechanical and biological properties, pure titanium (Ti) and different alloys have been widely used in the fields of orthopedics and dentistry. On the other hand, such surfaces are prone to certain bacterial infections, and it is not known whether this propensity is due to the dubious antibacterial properties of Ti, or to the compromised defenses of a certain type of host [4] For all these reasons, the surfaces of Ti implants are under constant study and evolution, with the aim of shortening waiting times and ensuring osseointegration. Chitosan (Ch) is a cationic polysaccharide derived from chitin, composed of Nacetylglucosamine and D-glucosamine [5] It is a biopolymer with interesting properties such as biodegradability, biocompatibility, nontoxicity, and low allergenicity, which, together with other antimicrobial and antifungal properties, make Ch one of the most widely used polymers in the study of antimicrobial chemotherapies in therapeutic development [6,7,8,9]. Several studies have demonstrated its usefulness as an osteoconductor and for enhancing bone formation, both in vitro and in vivo [11,12,13,14], as well as an inducer of apatite and calcium/phosphorus ion deposition, with active biomineralization properties, and its broad potential as a bone regenerator has been demonstrated [15,16,17,18]
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